Projectile.



-body portion of the projectile.

@FFQE GEORGE E. VELLS, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

PROJECTILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 24g, 1911.

Application filed May 28, 1916. Serial No. 563,949.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. lWELLs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in lrojectiles, of whichthe following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to projectiles, and particularly` to that classof projectiles to which rotation about the longitudinal axis in flightis induced by air traversing curved passages provided therein instead ofby the rifling of a gun. Such projectiles are, therefore, adapted foruse in smooth bore guns. Sonie features of the invention, however, areapplicable to projectiles which derive their axial rotation solely fromthe rifling. Then used in rifle guns the invention will accelerate andprolong the auxiliary rotation of the projectile,whereby the trajectorywill be flattened and the range increased.

The invention, therefore, consists in the structure hereinafter setforth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents in longitudinal axial section a projectile embodyingthe present invention; and Fig. 2 represents in elevation the forwardend of such projectile.

The present invention has to do mainly with the structure of the head ofthe projectile, and presents features intended to be used with those ofthe projectile which forms the subject of my earlier application, SerialNo. 540,653. rlhe projectile shown is of a shell type, and at its rearend is practically the same in structure as the projectile forming thesubject-matter of the prior application above referred to. The bandabout the rear end, however, is somewhat different in its constructionand in its mode of application. r1`his band 3 is applied to the body .1of the projectile by means of a flange having a dovetail connection withsaid body, and having its inner flange 5 extended just beyond the airoutlets and turned inwardly into an annular groove form-ed in the end ofthe plug 6. As in my former application said plug has spiral groovesabout its surface as indicated by dotted lines 7, which groovescommunicate with the central passage 8 extending axially through the Thering 3 is preferably made of paper or some similar substance which willreadily prevent windage and will also be readily removed from theprojectile on its leaving the muzzle of the gun, thereby uncovering thepassages about the plug 6.

The forward end of this projectile is provided with a cavity more orless conical. as indicated at 9, whereby sharp cutting edges are formedas indicated at 10. At the base of this cavity there is formed ascrewthreaded seat 11 to receive a screw-threaded flange formed upon thehard steel centering point 12, which is thereby held firmly in place inthc center of the cavity t). This point 12 is preferably extended beyondthe screw-threaded flange into the chamber 1B at the rear of thescrew-threaded seat. r1`his projection, however, .is smaller than thechamber 13, thereby leaving an air space between it and the body of theprojectile to which ducts as 11 formed in the .flange of the head 12lead from the cavity 9. Air entering the cavity 9 may thus pass throughducts 11, chamber 13, axial bore S and spiral passages at 7 and outthereof to the rear of the projectile assisting in removing the ring 3as soon as the projectile leaves the gun, giving axial rotation to theprojectile as in my prior application; the inner iiange of ring 3serving, as already suggested, for covering the air outlets andpreventing the charge from escaping through them dui'ing the expulsionof the projectile from the gun.

Axial rotation of the projectile may be effected by spiral passagesformed at or in the head of the projectile, and these may act alone orin conjunction with those at the rear just referred to. The forwardspiral passages may be conveniently added by means of a soft metal cap15 applied to the acorn shaped point 12. In the surface of this capspiral grooves as 16 are formed which lead from the point of the cap tothe corresponding ducts 14. Air as it passes along these spiral groovesand on through the central bore will give the desired axial rotation tothe projectile. r1`he cap 15 may be secured to the point 12 in anysuitable manner, as by pressing its rearward edge into a groove 1Gformed about the point 12, as seen in Fig. 1.

The projectile constructed on the above plan will, upon striking thearmor of a battleship or other target, be centered in its cutting effectby the sharp end of the steel point 12 and the soft metal cap willperform its usual function of locating said piercing or centering point.

Obviously, the projectile' having a head constructed with the sharpcutting edge and the central point need not depend upon air passages forits axial rotation any more than its effective work of striking an armorplate should depend there-on. rlhe feature of the sharp cutting edgewith the centering point being applicable as well to a solid whose axialrotation is derived from a rifling of the gun from which the projectileis discharged The invention claimed is:

l. A projectile provided at its head with an annular cutting edge andwith a centering vpoint located centrally with respect to said edge andprotruding beyond it.

2. A projectile provided at its head with an annular cutting edge andwith a centering point located centrally with respect to said edge andprotruding beyond it and a soft lnetal cap applied to said point.

3. A projectile having a concavity in its head surrounded by a cuttingedge, and having a hard steel point located in the center of saidconcavity and protruding beyond the cutting edge.

Ll. A projectile having a concavity in its head surrounded by a cuttingedge and having a hard steel point capped with soft metal and projectingbeyond the plane of said cutting edge.

5. In a projectile having an air passage extending therethrough andprovided with a concavlty in its forward end, the combination therewithof a point located in the cen` l a concavity in its forward end, thecombina`-r` tion therewith of a point having a perforated screw threadedflanged base secured in a seat in the center of said concavity, saidperforations connecting said concavity with said air passage.

7. In a projectile having' an air passage extending therethrough andprovided with a concavity in its forward end7 the combination therewithofra point having a pel'- forated screw threaded flanged base secured ina seat in the center of said concavity, said pcrforations connectingsaid concavity with said air passage, and a soft metal cap for saidpoint provided on its exterior with spiral grooves terminating at thesaid perforation for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix iny signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. WELLS.

litnesses MASON CRABLE, VELLMORE B. TURNER.

